Essence of Chaos

by Marie Andreas

  “Tired.” She tried to catch his eyes, but after his initial glance to see who had stumbled on him, Keanin stared off into the distance.

  “You, on the other hand, look awful,” she added as she sat down next to him. Being alone could wait.

  “If my ladies in Lithunane could see me now.” He forced a tight smile.

  “Keanin? Are you hurt?”

  “Only in heart and spirit.”

  As he spoke, she remembered that the royal family had raised him as one of their own.

  She took one of his hands. “The queen will be all right. She’s got the best healers in the world here.”

  He finally looked up, tears filling his eyes. “I hope so. But it’s not just her, it’s everything.” He shook his head. “All I ever wanted was to live in the court, happily surrounded by friends and family. Everything I love is falling apart.”

  That, Jenna thought to herself, was the understatement of the century. She wished she could lie to him and say everything was going to be all right. But she had never been that good of a liar. So, she changed the subject instead.

  “Did you get a chance to talk to anyone? When did Ki’ Crell get in?”

  “She and her band arrived after midnight. She was coming here to gather some healers to head back, when she heard that Tor Ranshal and Edgar were already here.” He gave a shudder. “I hate to think what would have happened if they hadn’t been here.”

  “Where were the rest of the guards?” It hadn’t appeared that there were more than thirty or so in the fighting last night. There were a few hundred stationed around the palace grounds.

  “They were drugged. Even those in the guardhouse. Maggie thinks that it must have been an airborne poison since it took almost all of them out. They’ll live, but they’re all in sorry shape today.”

  The lines in Keanin’s face were still deep. Jenna rose to her feet, dragging him with her. “Come on.”

  “Where are we going?”

  “To see Storm and Tor Ranshal. I think we have to start making plans now.”

  “Prince Justlantin has already called a meeting. Tor Ranshal isn’t there because Maggie said he was still too weak. She told him you were too weak, too.” He folded his arms. “Which is good, since otherwise they would have called for Ghortin.”

  Jenna met his gaze with a frown. “You didn’t tell anyone that he still hasn’t come back, did you?”

  “No, but you’re going to have to tell them soon. They need to know. What if he’s gone for good?”

  “He can’t be. He’s got nowhere else to go.” But she didn’t believe her own words. “Fine, I’ll tell them when we go talk to them. Are you coming or not?”

  “Do I have a choice?”

  “Not really. You’re in this with the rest of us now.”

  “Well, then,” he straightened his rumpled garments with a glimmer of his normal flair. “Let’s go find the rest of our suicidal bunch.”

  Storm was in his room talking quietly with Crell. The small woman’s flame red hair fell past her waist. She was thick and muscular, like most of her race, but had an alien grace. Her bright green eyes flashed as she chuckled evilly at something Storm had said.

  “Hey, can anybody join in, or is this for sword-wielding maniacs only?” Keanin asked as he pulled Jenna into the room.

  “You evil scamp.” Ki’ Crell ran forward, almost knocking Keanin down with her hug. “Still an eye for the ladies, I see.” She gave Jenna a warm smile, and then tipped her head. “Wait, aren’t you that mage who took out those bastards last night?”

  Jenna nodded. “Apprentice mage, actually. I’m Jenna.”

  “Crell, at your service.” The derawri fighter turned back toward Keanin with a sly smile.

  “Mage apprentice, eh? Pretty boy, I think you’re out of your depth. Don’t mess with this one; I’d hate to see your gorgeous face blown to bits.”

  “I’ll have you know, the lady Jenna and I have an understanding—”

  “He keeps asking, and she keeps knocking him down.” Storm cut him off as he nodded to Jenna. “I’m glad you came up. I wanted you two to meet. Crell is one of my oldest friends, and Jenna’s my newest.”

  Jenna was touched by his sincerity. The frustration and anger inside him seemed to have calmed, at least for the moment.

  “Are Tor Ranshal and Edgar awake?” Jenna asked.

  “Probably by now. Maggie dosed them both with her juice after the attack last night.” His eyes held the same worries Jenna’s mind did. They needed answers; otherwise the whole country was going to be torn apart before they realized what they were up against. And they needed Ghortin’s book.

  “You should probably call Ghortin back,” Storm said.

  A light dawned in Crell’s face. “You’re the one. Well, that explains it then, doesn’t it? Any apprentice of that one would have to be able to hold her own. Where is he? And why wasn’t he out there last night?”

  Jenna looked at Keanin. He wouldn’t tell, but she would have to.

  “I’m not sure what all Storm has told you.” From their reactions Crell was someone to be trusted. “But Ghortin has sort of transferred himself into my head. It happened during the attack in Lithunane when that bastard grabbed Ghortin and the king.” She sighed; there was no easy way to say this. “However, ever since the translocation spell for Tor Ranshal and Edgar, I haven’t been able to reach him.”

  Storm gave a low whistle. “Then that was all you last night?” He shook his head. “I thought he’d taken over again. Can you reach him now?”

  Jenna closed her eyes, but she knew it was futile. She opened them slowly. She’d felt nothing but an echo of her own thoughts. “I’m sorry.”

  “Hey.” Storm got to his feet and took hold of her hands gently. “It’s okay. Maybe he’s resting. Don’t worry. Come on, let’s go talk to Edgar.”

  At first Jenna was confused by the lightness in Storm’s tone. Then she understood the reason for it. Like her, he must have realized that something, finally, was going to be done.

  Edgar and Tor Ranshal were awake and talking quietly over a late breakfast in their beds. Both of them looked up as the foursome entered the room.

  “And how are the fierce warriors today?” Edgar asked.

  “Fine. And how are the fierce adventurers?” Storm answered, mimicking the knight’s tone perfectly.

  “Ouch, that hurt.” Edgar winced.

  “I think I’ll be staying away from adventuring for some time, thank you,” Tor Ranshal added wryly.

  Storm’s face grew sober and he shut the door behind him. “That’s what we’re here to talk to you about.”

  “Our adventure? We didn’t have a chance, as Tor Ranshal told you,” Edgar said.

  Storm looked around the room. “We’re going after Ghortin’s book, and then we’re going after the bastard who started this.” His face was grim.

  “But you don’t know who, or what’s, behind this,” Edgar said, picking at his plate. “Didn’t you listen to what Tor Ranshal told you? Everything is falling apart out there.”

  Storm was surprised. “You’d rather we sat here until whoever or whatever it is tears this land apart?”

  “No, I just don’t want you going off in a rush like you usually do.” His steady black eyes looked into Storm’s clear blue ones. “And I don’t want you to go without me.”

  Storm relaxed with a crooked grin. “I’d never dream of it.”

  “Don’t we need to talk about this, work things out, plan, etc.?” Keanin frowned.

  “He’s right,” Tor Ranshal said softly. “And you know Justlantin is going to make you wait until Resstlin comes back up here.”

  “That’s why we aren’t going to tell my beloved brother.” Storm snorted. “You know Resstlin wouldn’t approve it. ‘ Not until we’re sure what we’re up against’ is his battle motto. Besides, did he show any sign of leaving Lithunane soon?”

  “Not until summer.” Tor Ranshal turned to Jenna. “What does Ghortin say to
all this?”

  “That’s a problem. I’ve lost contact with him.” She met his eyes squarely. “He hasn’t come back.”

  “That isn’t good. He should have recovered by now.” He looked closely at Jenna. “The things I heard that you did last night; it was you, not Ghortin?” His voice was unusually sharp, as if he’d tripped over something.

  “Yes, it was me. I’m not sure what happened. Something just took over, but it wasn’t him.”

  “Hush, my dear.” Tor Ranshal leaned forward and took her face in his hands, muttering to himself. The others couldn’t hear him, but Jenna picked out bits and pieces. “Could it be? After all the searching?” He held her face and turned it to one side. “Hold still, my dear.” Jenna felt him trying to draw in Power, then stop. There wasn’t any for him to draw from. “Oh, stars, I’d forgotten I’d tapped myself out. Jenna, you say you have no idea what you did? Has this happened before?”

  Jenna almost didn’t want to answer because his intensity was so unnerving. “Yes,” she said finally. “Against the ertin, back at Ghortin’s cottage. I sent them away to die, as opposed to blowing them to bits.” While she was grateful both times for whatever Power stepped in and destroyed the attackers, it was disturbing that it seemed to be growing. And that she still had no idea where it was coming from. Or, she feared, how to control it.

  Tor Ranshal smacked himself in the head. “Right under our noses. That’s what we get for not confiding more in that blessed mage. Oh, how I wish Rachael was here.”

  His voice had dropped down low again and Jenna couldn’t hear all of what he said, but she did catch the name. Surely the palace seneschal didn’t confide in a hearth witch from the bad side of the city? But, as Storm said, she wasn’t what she appeared to be.

  “Do you mean Rachael the hearth witch in Lithunane?”

  “What?” His golden eyes flashed as if he hadn’t been aware that he’d spoken out loud. “Yes, dear. I’m sorry; I thought I was talking in my head. I think you’re right, Corin, you must get Ghortin’s book immediately.” He turned to Jenna, clasping her hands tightly. “As much as I want you to stay, you must go as well. But promise me you’ll go to see Rachael the minute you get into the city. Before you go anywhere near the castle. And don’t give up on Ghortin; I’m sure he’ll find his way back.”

  Jenna frowned, what they didn’t need now were more mysteries. “Is there anything I should tell Rachael?” She was going to feel foolish popping in on the old woman for no reason.

  He made a quick little movement with his hands, then nodded. “Tell her I sent you. She’ll figure it out. Now, as Keanin says, we must make plans, but you should all go as soon as possible. By tomorrow, I’d say.”

  Keanin’s face had brightened when Tor Ranshal spoke of making plans, and crashed when he said tomorrow.

  It was dinnertime when Jenna finally went to her room to pack. Storm had come to the castle with her to see how his mother was. Keanin had trailed listlessly behind. Jenna had a feeling she was going to have to make sure he didn’t wander off; the poor thing wasn’t handling any of this well. He’d broached a plan with Tor Ranshal, of him staying, and taking troops down later, after the winter storms and spring floods. Tor Ranshal seriously considered it, then shook his head.

  “I strongly believe in coincidence, my boy, and I think you’ve fallen in with these people for a reason. For good or ill, you must go with them.”

  From that point on, Keanin sulked. Jenna had tried a couple more times to reach Ghortin, but after giving herself a massive headache, she decided to let it rest.

  She had everything packed by the time a light knock came at her door. She opened it to find a sullen Keanin and a somber Storm. “Your mother?”

  “She still hasn’t woken up. We said our good-byes.” Storm looked around the room as they entered. “Are you packed?”

  Jenna quelled the butterflies in her stomach. “Yes. Are you certain this is going to work?”

  “You tell me, it’s your spell that’s going to cover us. Do you want to practice on the packs on the way out?”

  “Might as well.” This was why she had a twisted stomach. Try as they might, they couldn’t figure out a way to get clear of Irundail without being seen that didn’t involve magic. Tor Ranshal was, as he put it, ‘tapped out at the moment’. But he helped Jenna work on adapting her cloak spell. She’d have to pay close attention to everything around her and keep the group in tight formation, but, theoretically, she should be able to hide them as they left Irundail. The theoretical part was what got her.

  If this failed, at the very least it would make it impossible for them to try again. She didn’t want to think what the worst case could be. She briefly wondered what the penalty was for kidnapping a prince.

  Storm patted her arm. “Come on. Tor Ranshal showed you how, and we all know how much Power you have. This will be simple.”

  Jenna winced. “I have Power sometimes, but it’s not consistent. What if it cuts out as we’re passing the guards?”

  Storm shrugged. “Then we’ll run for it. No one is going to be looking for us to sneak out.”

  “Can we stop all this chit chat and get on with this?” Keanin frowned as he slid down on to a chair. “I know this has to be done, but why can’t it be some other group? I don’t want to see my closest friends skewered, stabbed, or blown apart.”

  “Calm down.” Storm squeezed his friend’s shoulder. “You’re with the best of the best, so cheer up.”

  “Can we move on to the Healing House now? Before I do something stupid like run screaming down the halls?” Keanin asked.

  Jenna mentally reached out for the swirling chaos. She didn’t need much at this point; hiding their packs wouldn’t be that hard. But it was reassuring to feel the Power out there.

  She couldn’t help jumping every time someone greeted them on the way out however.

  Storm finally took her arm, holding her steady as they continued their evening stroll through the grounds.

  Edgar met them first, he was dressed head to toe in black, looking much more like a spy at this point than a knight of the realm. She meant to ask him about that at some point on their journey south. Somehow, being both a knight and a spy seemed odd. One was forthright and honorable; the other was sneaky and devious. Edgar was both, and was very good at both from what she’d gathered from Storm.

  Crell was dressed in muted dark browns and greens. A tall human male standing next to her was dressed likewise. She and the rest of her people would join them once they got out of Irundail. Her band of hunters wouldn’t be remarked on if they left, and it would ease the burden on Jenna’s spell.

  “I see we are assembled.” Tor Ranshal looked over the group. “Crell, I think you and your companion can go join your people now.”

  The flame-haired derawri warrior nodded, then turned to Edgar. “At the base of Trundlin, then. We’ll expect you by noon tomorrow.” Flashing a smile at everyone else, she and her companion left.

  22

  A few minutes after midnight Jenna set the spell exactly as Tor Ranshal had told her. But she still wished she could be sure it was working. The seneschal told her she would feel a slight tingle when it was in full coverage. She thought she felt it, but she couldn’t be sure it wasn’t just nerves, the echo acting up, or any of a variety of other things. For all she knew, they looked as they were; a small group marching toward the border of Irundail for the entire world to see.

  “Would you stop fidgeting? I’m sure your spell is working fine,” Storm whispered.

  “What if it’s not? They’ll think we’re kidnapping you or something,” she whispered back.

  “Actually, my lady, since we’re surrounding you, it looks more like you’re the kidnapping victim,” Edgar said amiably from the front of the group.

  His pace was a bit more hesitant and stiffer than usual. But considering the condition he’d been in the day before, it was amazing he was up and moving at all. The injury to his head had been healed with
a few hours of work by a half dozen mages.

  For the most part, they didn’t see anybody. When they got down to the city, the only people they saw were drunks, either on their way home or on their way for another drink. Jenna didn’t take their lack of reaction to heart. She doubted that any of those sops would have seen them even if they were standing unspelled right in front of them.

  The fact that the guards didn’t come out at the entrance to the city should have made her feel better. But it didn’t. She realized her thoughts were becoming paranoid, but she couldn’t shake them. At least she didn’t share them with the others.

  “All right, we’re almost to the gate,” Keanin whispered, speaking for the first time since they left the House of Healing. “Last chance for rational thought to kick in.” No one bothered to answer him, but Storm turned around and shook his head.

  Jenna felt the sweat beading up on her forehead. They had added guards to the main gate, although there was less evidence that last night’s attack came from outside than originally assumed.

  She held her breath as the four of them walked silently through the row of guards. She continued holding it until they’d gone past the Keepers.

  Of course, that was a rather long walk, and she swayed to the side a bit when they reached the end.

  “What’s wrong?” Storm whispered as he steadied her. “Did something get through?”

  Jenna was glad that the darkness hid her embarrassment. “No, I…the strain and everything. This spell isn’t easy.” She sure as hell wasn’t going to tell him she’d almost passed out because she was holding her breath.

  They continued in silence for another twenty yards, until they came to the edge of the forest.

  “You can drop your spell now, my lady,” Edgar said. “I think we’re past them. As long as we stay quiet, no one will see us in here.”

  Within a few hours of walking through the woods, Jenna and Keanin found themselves lagging behind Storm and Edgar. Which should have been embarrassing, since they were recovering invalids. But neither Jenna nor Keanin particularly cared at that point. Besides, Storm and Edgar were both in their element now.